Expat Student provides personalised guidance to families seeking the right international university course. With experience across the UK, Europe, Canada and beyond, their counsellors help students identify suitable courses, navigate complex application processes, prepare personal statements, and manage interviews, exams, and results day.
Unlike university agents, Expat Student offers independent, student-first advice based solely on academic fit, reputation, and future career pathways, supporting families from early exploration through to enrolment and beyond. Expat Student guides you during every step of the process.
How We Help Families Choose the Right International University Course
Our first discussions begin with you, the parents. We talk to you about your wishes for your child and important aspects of the process such as the costs involved for university courses in different countries and whether this aligns with the available budget. Studying abroad is a big financial investment in your child’s future, one which needs careful consideration and expert guidance.
Understanding Your Child’s Academic Profile and Career Goals
After our discussions with you, our work with your child starts and we commence by focusing on their preferences and exploring questions such as: what are they currently studying? What are their current grades like and are they a true reflection of their abilities? What do they enjoy the most? And of course, the most important being what do they want to do in their future career?
This stage of discovery is absolutely crucial to the whole process and therefore takes time which is why we encourage parents to make contact with us 18 months before their child is due to start at university. It’s important to understand the deadlines; necessary application process for different countries and individual universities; and to consider whether additional evidence, and therefore more training, is needed such as IELTS or Toefl exam certificates to prove your child’s level of English.
Independent, Student-First International University Advice
Of course, every student is different. Some have a strong sense of what they want to study and the country where they want to study but they are unaware of their options to do so so we begin focusing on courses. With a number of things in mind such as your child’s academic level, their preferences about campus universities, the length of the course and your budget, we begin to carefully collate a list of suggested course options from universities that we would recommend. Because we don’t act as agents for any universities, we base our recommendations on the reputation of the university, including its ranking worldwide, and where we feel would best suit your child – not on who will pay us a commission. We are not led by financial incentives from the universities but by the right course for the student, whether that be in the UK, Europe or further afield such as Canada or Hong Kong.
Exploring Global Course Options and University Pathways
Other students may start with an idea about what they would like to study or a particular university that they have heard of but nothing especially concrete. This means we take the opportunity to explore their interests and by showing them different options, work out what will provide them with the best opportunities. In the past, students have come to us liking the idea of one course and then through our exploration together, decided upon something they are more suited to or which gives them better prospects in the future. As an example, a few years ago a student expressed a keen interest in the theatre, as she took an active role behind the scenes in her spare time, and she felt she wanted to pursue this at undergraduate level. When we began to explore this further and discuss her reasoning, she realised that actually it would be of greater benefit to enrol on a broader course which would give her a strong foundation, such as business, and then apply this to theatre and the arts in her master’s degree at a later stage. She recently wrote to us thanking us for our role in her decision to study International Management at Warwick. We are now planning her Master’s application with her to Bocconi’s MSc Economics and Management in Arts, Media and Entertainment.
The International University Application Process Explained
Through discussions together, we narrow down the courses to those your son or daughter would like to apply for and begin to work on the application phase. Thanks to Expat Student’s years of expertise, we know exactly how to prioritise where to start in order to not miss any deadlines.
Personal Statements, Entrance Exams and Interviews
A large number of universities require personal statements or letters of motivation so we begin working on these together and ask students to spend time reflecting and adding their own ideas to it between our calls. For many universities, personal statements form a large part of the application – universities in the UK for instance use this alongside a student’s predicted grades to inform decisions about entry – so we ensure that what a student submits provides a thoughtful and reflective account of where they are currently and how their experience and knowledge make them the perfect fit for the course they wish to study.
A number of universities require entrance exams to prove a student’s ability in a certain area. For some, this forms a university specific test which they complete online and for others it involves a test where they must visit a test centre. Whilst we cannot personally prepare a student for entrance exams, such as the LNAT or the Bocconi test, we can provide details of support available, or put you in contact with tutors where needed, ensuring students are effectively prepared and meet any necessary deadlines.
Some universities require students to provide a curriculum vitae, which we can create for them, or a video recording in answer to a question or as a reflection on a certain subject alongside their application. Having successfully guided a large number of students through this, we know exactly what the universities are looking for so guide the students through practice and preparation to ensure they present themselves positively.
But, possibly the most daunting of all aspects of the application for young people is… when a university invites them for an interview! Even as adults, the prospect of an interview can be nerve-wracking but this is even truer for young people who have little experience and no idea about what to expect. By working together and role-playing potential questions and suitable responses over multiple sessions, we settle your child’s nerves and make sure they are able to show off their true self!
Tracking Applications and Managing Offers
Our support doesn’t end once the applications have been successfully submitted. Whilst we wait patiently for the universities to respond, we ensure your child keeps on top of university emails regarding further information, possible offers or important deadlines. Then, when we have received all of the responses, we guide them and you through the best option and how to proceed with accepting the offer. After this, we remain on hand to provide advice and point you in the right direction regarding how to organise all of the other considerations when it comes to sending children abroad to study, including: accommodation, bank accounts and visa applications.
Results Day Support and Alternative Pathways
For the majority of young people, their offer remains conditional upon them meeting certain expectations at the end of their high school studies. So upon results day, we help ensure your child’s place is secured at their chosen university. If they meet the grade requirements of their offer, excellent news! If there are any differences between the expectations of the offer they received and the grades they achieved, we contact the universities and see if they will still accommodate them. In the unfortunate event that they won’t, we contact their other choices and find them a suitable alternative that they are happy with.
Ongoing Guidance Beyond University Acceptance
Our students (or ex-Expat Students as we like to call them) often stay in contact with us, letting us know how they are doing on their course and allowing us to put them in contact with current applicants to the same school, to share their university experience.
If you feel that Expat Student could be a good fit to help your child with their higher education applications, reach out at contact@expatstudent.fr to fix a first free, no obligation call to discuss your plans and how we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an international university course?
An international university course is a degree programme offered by a university outside a student’s home country. These courses allow students to study abroad in destinations such as the UK, Europe, Canada or beyond, often experiencing different education systems, teaching styles and cultural environments while gaining a globally recognised qualification.
How do I choose the right international university course for my child?
Choosing the right course starts with understanding both the family’s priorities and the student’s academic profile, interests and long-term career goals. At Expat Student, we consider factors such as academic ability, subject preferences, university reputation, course structure, location, duration and budget. By taking a personalised and student-first approach, we help families identify courses that are the best academic and personal fit, rather than simply the most well-known options.
When should we start planning for an international university application?
We recommend starting the planning process around 18 months before your child is due to begin university. Early preparation allows time to understand different countries’ application systems, meet deadlines, prepare personal statements and entrance exams, and complete any additional requirements such as English language tests as needed.
Do you act as agents for universities?
No. Expat Student does not act as an agent for any universities. We provide fully independent advice and our recommendations are based on the right academic fit, university reputation and what will best support each student’s future goals.
What support is included in your international university guidance service?
Our guidance covers the entire university journey, from researching the right courses to the application and beyond. This includes course and university selection, application strategy, advice on personal statements and motivation letters, interview preparation, entrance exam guidance, application tracking, offer decision support, and advice on practical matters such as accommodation, visas and banking. We remain available to support families throughout the process.
Can you help if my child doesn’t meet their offer conditions?
Yes. If a student does not meet the conditions of their offer on results day, we contact the relevant universities to explore whether flexibility is possible. If the original offer cannot be confirmed, we can help identify and secure suitable alternative options.
For more expert insights, read founder Louise Fernet’s article on applying to university as an expat student on the MumAbroad blog.
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